Pea-shelling machine



(No Model.)

J H BMPSON PBA SHELLING MAGHINB.

Patented Oct. 23, 1894.

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` PBA SHELLING MACHINE. No. 527,955.

Patented oct. 23,1894.

Y @Mi/limone@ j m WM W4 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. nMPsON, or LONGMONT, COLORADO.

PEA-SHELLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,955, dated October 23, 1894.

Application filed September 4, 1893. i Serial No. 484,769. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN H. EMPsoN, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Longmont, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pea-Shelling Machines; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the selves by practical experience with them. I-

attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings and specification, in whichf- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal, sec-` tional view through the center of Fig. 2 on line A. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of my improved pea shelling machine with the feed table removed. Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary end view of a portion of the pea sorting mechanism. Fig. 4f represents a side view of a portion ofthe machine showing it arranged for shelling peas from the pods by hand power. i Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several` views.

i During several years of practical experience with pea shelling machinery as operated in a canning factory I have been led to believe that the principle of separating them from the pods and vines by impact in air or by striking them with beaters as they fall by gravity from the top of a revolving cylinder i arranged to carry them partially around, is

at fault both in theory and practice, first, because machines constructed on this principle do not do the work thoroughly; second, their actioh on the peas is slow and consequently the capacity is small; third, the

`able time. `necessary to start with an entirely new prinl beaters do notthoroughly separate the vines,

and consequently numerous pods secreted among themescape action; fourth,in straight, horizontally arranged cylinders the vines frequently choke up, necessitating a stoppage of the plant and the loss of consider- To obviate these difficulties it is ciple of treatment, which consists of rapidly rotating the vines in a stationary, vertical, conical cylinder and tearing them apart by means of 'spirally arranged thrasher blades or arms. To carry this principle into elfect `I proceed as follows:

Referring to Fig-1, B. represents a stationary, vertical conical shell of any convenient form of crosssection or material. It has been the practice in pea shelling machinery to make this outer shell revolve, also to fill it full of holes for' the shelled peas to drop through. Ifind that muchbetter results are attained'bydispensing with both of these devices. Consequently I make this shell stationary and with the sides entirely closed,

i leaving both ends entirely open with the exception of suitable spokes, B', which'support the lower end of the shaft, O', of the inner cylinder or drum D. Upon the inner surface of said shell I arrange in the form of a screw 1 thread one or more rows of thrasher blades E, one row being shown in the cross section, Fig. 1.

A frame work of pipe, C, supports the shell and cylinder, and also the numerous driving pulleys, belts and shafts that are necessary to transmit motion to the various operating parts, which will be described hereinafter more in detail.

D; designates a conical cylinder or `drum journaled centrally in the above mentioned shell in bearings D and D2. The lower bearing D2 is attached by the spokes B to the outer shell, and the top bearing D to one of the pipes of the frame. The shaft C of said inner cone extends above the bearingD, and carries a bevel gear D7 in which meshes a like bevel gear, D3, supported by a shaft D4, journaled in the said bearing. This shaft D4 also carries driving pulleys D5 and D6. By means of this arrangement which is illustrated and is one of many that might be adopted,a rotative motion isgiven to the said inner cylinder D. The surface of this inner cone is also provided with one or more rovvs of thrasher blades F. arranged in the form of a screw or thread, but preferably arranged with the pitch opposite from that of the blades E of the outer shell B.

The blades on both shell and cone are arranged a short distance apart and this distance is successively diminished through the length of the said shell and cone. The blades on the cone are also arranged to pass between the blades of the shell and to approach close to its surface so as to catch and keep all vines in rapid rotative motion. The object of decreasing the distance between the blades as they proceed through the shell is to subject the vines to an increasing finer treatment as they travel through the shell, which is necessary, as they are fed into the shell in tangled masses andare quickly torn apart, and small pieces carrying one or more pods are very apt to escape treatment. It is also for this reason that the shell and cone are made conical.

'It is found in practice that some pods require more severe action, or a higher rotative and concussive treatment than others to separate the peas from them. I accomplish this by increasing the diameter of both shell and cone from the feed end to the exit end. This gives the blades or arms at the exit end a higher rate of speed, and together with the variable arrangement of the blades completely separates the peas from the pods. The shelled peas and the vines drop from the shell onto the endless belt G, which may be made of canvas, leather or rubber. It is stretched on drums or on sprocket wheels H. journaled at opposite ends of the frame, and receives motion from a belt I or similar means connecting to any kind of motive power. This belt G. is allowed to sag slightly at the center and its entire surface is perforated with holes G for the peas to fall through. In order however to facilitate the lateral movement of the vines and to sift from them such shelled peas as may lodge among them, I arrange across the belt G, several rotary tedders G2, which are j ournaled in suitable bearings G3, attached to the frame. These tedders as shown consist of a series of forks G2, arranged a short distance apart on the shafts K. They should be arranged to pick up and let fall the vines on the belt as they travel along with it, which action tends to loosen the peas lodged among them. On the under side o f the top part of the belt I also arrange a series of belt agitators L. These may consist of a loop L, of metal or wood pivoted t0 each side of the frame at N.

On the pivoted ends of the levers L, a slight projection O is formed, which extends in the path of an oscillating lever P, which is pro# vided with a number of like projections arranged to abut against the projections O violently so as to throw the loops L against the under side of the perforated belt. The. oscillating lever or arm P, is pivoted at P and receives motion from a pitman Q, pivoted to a crank arm R, secured to the end of the shaft K.

Between the folds of the belt I arrange a chute S. to catch the peas as they drop. The peas are led by this around the edge of the belt to the center of the sieve T, upon which they are dropped, passing by a current of air from the pipe ILWhich may connect with a blower attached to the frame, or be located at some remote point while the chaff drops 0n the conveyer U', and is carried away. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a fragmentary section of this chute and the sieve T.

Several perforated sieves may be arranged below the belt with chutes S and S2 arranged below each to catch the peas that drop through them and convey them to the boxes V, V and V2, thus dividing them into sizes, which is necessary for commercial purposes. These sieves are preferablyhung on straps V3, which allows them to be adj usted to secure the proper pitch. They receive agitation from a pitman W and eccentric lV', or any similar arrangement.

This machine built of suitable size to allow its being readily handled, can be used in hotels and large restaurants for shelling peas from the pods, the operation by hand being very tedious and requiring considerable time where several bushels have to be prepared for the table. Only slight modifications are necessary. For instance the bevel gear on the shaft C', could be reduced to a small pinion and the gear enlarged on the shaft D4, and a crank Z placed on the end of said shaft in place of the pulleys. The outer cylinder IOO may be made to revolve which can be done by an additional pair of gears Z and Z2, as shown in Fig. 4t. Rollers, Z3, may be used if desired to support the outer cylinder. The perforated endless belt, or a like operating device should be retained,but the sieves can be dispensed with, and the machine simply reduced to miniature form.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pea Sheller having a frame, a stationary shell on said frame, a rotatable drum in said shell, thrasher blades on said shell and drum, a series of tedders in line with the discharge end of said shell, and a rotating endless belt below said tedders said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. The combination with the shell and in ner drum in a green pea Sheller, of an endless, perforated rotating belt arranged below said shell and drum; of a series of tedders arranged to agitate the vines; of an arm or arms arranged below the top of said belt and adapted to intermittently violently contact with it 5 of a chute arranged to catch the peas from said perforated belt and conduct them to the sieves; ofva pipe communicating with a blower and adapted to produce a current of air intercepting the peas between the chute and sieves'and the belt and chaff conveyer, operating to separate the cha from the peas 5 IIO of a series of sieves arranged to separate the peas into sizes, all arranged as herein set forth and described.

3. The combination in a green pea shelling machine of a frame preferably of tubing supporting a vertical conical shell arranged stationary or revoluble, having inwardly projecting arms arranged spirally and spaced successive diminishing distances apart; of an inner conical drum journaled. in said shell,

and provided with projecting arms spaced to pass between the arms of said outer shell; of

an endless, perforated, revolving belt arranged below said shell; of tedders arranged across said belt and means for rotating them; of agitators arranged to agitate said belt by contact with it; of a blower with pipe producing a current of air arranged to separate the with a rotary shaft,substantial1y as described. 3o

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN H. EMPSON. Witnesses:

L. O. SCOTT, JOHN E. MEEK. 

